The London School of Economics and Political Science – LSE – offers a unique opportunity to study the social sciences in a university institution with a worldwide academic reputation, while enjoying the cultural, social and recreational facilities of one of the world's greatest capital cities. Many influential developments in thinking about society, economics and politics have originated in work done here, including the basis of the modern welfare state and the development of free-market economics.
Debate on the proper place of the state in the promotion of prosperity and welfare has been a recurrent theme throughout LSE's history. LSE aims to be the place where these issues, and the solutions to the questions they pose, are debated. These include: intensifying globalisation; the changing nature of the nation state; new opportunities and problems for global business; the transformation of world financial markets; the emergence of new ethnic divisions and conflicts; shifts in geopolitical power; the impact of climate change. We study not only British areas of interest but also those of other countries, many of them in a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective. Few institutions in the world are as truly international as LSE.
A world centre of research and teaching
Our research informs and constantly invigorates our teaching. Postgraduate students also play a valued and important role in the School's contribution to scholarship, through the research they undertake during their studies. LSE supports the research of its staff through academic departments and institutes, and also through a range of interdisciplinary research centres|. Some 97 per cent of LSE academics are actively engaged in research. Staff are regularly sought out as advisers, consultants and commentators, becoming involved in the practical impact of the subjects they teach and research. Many past and present members of staff act as expert advisers to political parties, the Civil Service and policy pressure groups. For instance, Professor David Metcalf is chair of the independent UK Migration Advisory Committee, Emeritus Professor Lord Desai is a regular speaker in House of Lords debates and Emeritus Professor Lord Wallace is a government whip in the coalition government. Emeritus Professor Lord Layard, founder of the Centre for Economic Performance, is a prominent expert on happiness and well being.
The School's international reputation and London location ensure that in times of crisis it is to LSE that the media turn first for a response. Professor Nicholas Stern (climate change), Professor Conor Gearty (human rights), Professor Dominic Lieven (Russia), Professor Anne Power (housing policy), Tony Travers (London and local government) and Professor Danny Quah (the weightless economy) will all be familiar names to the average news addict.
For a guide to staff research and consultancy experience, and their leading publications, please see lse.ac.uk/experts|
2008 HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise
The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) is a UK-wide assessment of research excellence at universities undertaken by the Higher Education Funding Councils every five to seven years. The most recent RAE took place in 2008 and the results confirmed LSE's position as a world leading research university, with the School topping or coming close to the top of a number of rankings of research excellence.
Individual subject areas at LSE also head national tables of excellence. LSE comes top nationally by grade point average in Economics, Law, Social Policy and European Studies, with Anthropology coming second.
More information about the RAE and individual subject areas can be found at Research Assessment Exercise 2008|.